RC 260930SAfmSakina Kamwendo
Wednesday, 30 September 2026
The episode centred on Joe Ferrari Sibanyoni’s contested testimony at the Matlanga Commission about torched Putco buses, taxi blockades and Taxi Choice’s attempted takeover of Putco.
- 12:02
Evidence leader Matthew Chaskalson said Putco recorded more than 350 incidents of buses allegedly blocked by taxi operators in KwaNdebele between October 2024 and January 2025.
- 12:15
Sibanyoni accepted there was no strike when 51 buses were torched on 27 January 2025, but maintained the burning could relate to wider labour and taxi-industry disputes.
- 12:26
The commission heard that 51 buses burned across three depots: 16 at Moloto, 18 at Putco’s Volvokraal depot and 17 at Siyabuswa.
- 12:52
Taxi Choice, Santaco’s business arm, made an unsolicited offer to buy Putco outright; Putco said it was not for sale and demanded a R100 million deposit plus a R2 billion guarantee.
- 12:54
Sibanyoni said he had pursued the Putco purchase on behalf of the taxi industry, while also discussing old buses for community use, but the talks ended when the financial conditions could not be met.